As the principal active ingredient of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Baicalin demonstrates anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities with the potential to repair brain injury. Nonetheless, poor solubility in water and low bioavailability of Ba limits its clinical application. To enhance solubility, bioavailability, and lesion-site delivery of Ba to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-rich lesions, we developed a ROS-responsive liposomal delivery system using DSPE-SS-PEG. Thin-film hydration was utilized to prepare the Ba-loaded liposomes (Ba@DSPE-SS-PEG-Liposome), before optimization via response surface methodology. The liposomes were comprehensively characterized in vitro using drug loading, particle size, morphology, release behavior, and encapsulation efficiency. Under high ROS conditions, internalization of ROS-responsive (DSPE-SS-PEG-modified) formulation was improved based on findings of cellular uptake studies. At the ischemic site, liposomes promoted targeted accumulation and prolonged systemic circulation of the drug. Neurological deficits, cerebral edema, and neuronal apoptosis were significantly alleviated in a rat model of hemorrhagic stroke by the ROS-responsive liposomes, which outperformed conventional liposomes and free Ba. Synergistic regulation of inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways mediated these therapeutic benefits. Altogether, the therapeutic efficacy of BA in hemorrhagic stroke can be effectively enhanced by this ROS-responsive (stimuli-responsive) liposomal system.

Cancer cell membrane and iRGD peptide co-modified cantharidin liposomes for targeted therapy and immunotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer.

Cherry tomatoes are prone to postharvest deterioration and spoilage at room temperature, whereas chemical preservatives pose safety and environmental risks. Clove essential oil (CEO) has excellent antibacterial activity but is limited by high volatility, poor water solubility and dosage sensitivity. Cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (β-CD-MOFs) can improve CEO stability, but their poor processability and aqueous dispersibility hinder fruit preservation applications. Chitosan (CS), a natural hydrogel with film-forming and antibacterial properties, offers an ideal matrix to address these limitations. A CEO-loaded CS/β-CD-MOFs composite coating (CS-CEO/MOFs) was constructed and evaluated on cherry tomatoes stored at 25 °C via physicochemical analysis, electronic eye color detection and texture profile analysis (TPA). Compared with control, CS and high-concentration CEO-chitosan (CS-CEO-H) groups, high-concentration CS-CEO/MOFs (CS-CEO/MOFs-H) delayed spoilage. Principal component analysis of electronic eye data showed the recognition index (a parameter reflecting the distinguishability of color characteristics among groups) increased from -3 (day 0) to 97-98 (days 6-21), indicating distinct inter-group ripening rate differences. TPA results indicated CS-CEO/MOFs-H slowed hardness decline (effect positively correlated with hydrogel concentration) and maintained higher soluble sugar, vitamin C and titratable acid contents, as well as reduced weight loss, extending room-temperature shelf life to 21 days. The CS-CEO/MOFs coating combined the gas barrier property of CS and the controlled release capability of β-CD-MOF, forming a synergistic fresh-keeping mechanism. As a safe, natural preservative, it provides a promising solution to reduce cherry tomato postharvest losses and lays a foundation for the development of plant-derived composite preservatives with controlled-release and gas barrier synergistic properties. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Arthritis, an acute inflammatory disease affecting single or multiple joints, causes irreversible damage to cartilage and bone, leading to substantial pain and economic burden. Current treatments lack specificity. Curcumin, with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, shows promise in arthritis treatment, yet its poor water solubility and low bioavailability hinder clinical use. This study investigates the efficacy of a nanocarrier-based curcumin delivery system for non-infectious arthritis. Four types of nanocarriers-liposomes, biomolecule-based nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, and improved nanocarriers-are reviewed for their ability to target curcumin delivery. These nanocarriers improve curcumin's therapeutic effects by enhancing pharmacokinetics, prolonging circulation, and protecting against degradation. Demonstrating potential in various non-infectious arthritis types, including ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and gout, this study underscores the efficacy of nanocarrier-based curcumin delivery systems in reducing inflammation, modulating immune responses, and alleviating disease symptoms. Future research should focus on optimizing nanocarrier design for increased bioavailability and conducting more clinical trials to validate safety and effectiveness in humans.

Post-traumatic wound management is a critical issue that needs to be addressed. Chitosan (CS) with inherent biocompatibility and biodegradability is widely applied in wound healing, but the products of CS often suffer from poor water solubility and mechanical strength. Herein, we developed new double-crosslinked CS-based cryogels. Firstly, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was used to modify CS for the crosslinking of double bonds, followed by further crosslinking with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE). A series of CS-based cryogels were prepared by adjusting the concentration of CS from 2wt% to 4wt% and the content of BDDE from 0.1vol% to 0.4vol%. The CS-based cryogels demonstrated enhanced mechanical properties as the concentration of CS increased, higher swelling capacity as the content of BDDE increased and potent antioxidant activity around 80%. The CS-based cryogels exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial performance, with antibacterial rates over 90% against both S. aureus and E. coli. Cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays confirmed the biocompatibility and hemocompatibility of the cryogels. The CS-based cryogels reduced blood loss in mice tail amputation models and accelerated tissue regeneration in full-thickness wound models demonstrating potential for clinical application. Among them, the CS3-GB3 cryogel demonstrated the most effective promotion of wound healing.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) faces significant challenges in clinical applications, including tumor hypoxia, the poor water solubility of photosensitizers, and insufficient targeting specificity. To address these limitations, we developed a biomimetic nanoagonist, 4T1@MFCB, by coloading a near-infrared photosensitizer (CyI) and a GLUT1 inhibitor (BAY-876) into a manganese/iron bimetallic metal-organic framework (MOF), followed by coating with the homologous 4T1 cell membrane. The manganese component catalyzes the decomposition of endogenous H2O2 to generate oxygen, alleviating tumor hypoxia and enhancing PDT efficacy, while the iron component promotes ferroptosis via the Fenton reaction. Meanwhile, BAY-876 inhibits glucose uptake, disrupting NADPH production and the cystine-to-cysteine reduction process, which leads to cystine accumulation and glutathione (GSH) depletion. These effects collectively suppress the Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11(SLC7A11)/glutathione (GSH)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) antioxidant axis, thereby triggering disulfidptosis. Under near-infrared irradiation, CyI mediates effective photodynamic and photothermal therapy (PTT). Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that 4T1@MFCB enables synergistic PDT/ferroptosis/disulfidptosis therapy, significantly inhibiting tumor growth without obvious systemic toxicity. This work highlights a multimodal treatment strategy that integrates metabolic intervention with nanocatalytic therapy, providing a promising approach for the precision treatment of hypoxic and therapy-resistant tumors.

Gliadin hydrolysate-chitosan bilayer nanoparticles for berberine delivery: Controlled release, enhanced antioxidant activity, and lipid digestion regulation.

Research progress of curcumin and its derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents: From molecular mechanism to clinical application.

Chitosan/selenium nanoparticles Pickering emulsion prolong quercetin retention time to ameliorates cognitive disorder: Focus on restoring the metabolic disorder and gut microbiota.

Hair follicle-targeted baicalin nanocrystal delivery using microneedles for long-acting treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel isoalantolactone-benzylamine derivatives leading to the discovery of a PARP1 inhibitor with selective cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Carrier-free antitumor nanomedicines based on plant-derived compounds: From conceptual innovation to therapeutic potential.

Modulation of the photodynamic activity of a cinnamoyl-coumarin-RGD peptide conjugate via cucurbit[8]uril supramolecular assembly.

Rosmarinic acid based nasal spray formulation: Comparative study of nanoemulsions vs solid lipid nanoparticles.

Neem extracts with nanotechnology have emerged as a novel area at the interface of ancient phytomedicine and modern drug delivery systems. The ‘neem tree’ ( Azadirachta indica), with its pharmacologically active constituents such as azadirachtin, nimbin, and quercetin, possesses excellent antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Nevertheless, in their crude form, their poor solubility in water, poor bioavailability, and instability pose a hurdle in their application towards better healthcare. Some breakthroughs have been achieved with nanotechnology, which encapsulates these extracts in nanoparticles, liposomes, polymer micelles, nanofibers, and hydrogels for controlled release, target delivery, and better pharmacokinetics.This article provides a brief update on the synthesis of nano-formulations of neem, including the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using neem leaves to prepare metallic nanoparticles such as ZnO and AgNPs, as well aschitosan-based nanocarrier systems for the sustained delivery of phytoconstituents. Such systems show far better efficacy in patient treatment with a boost in targeting capability in oncology with reduced cytotoxicity and tumor-targeting capabilities in tumor-bearing animals. Moreover, in wound dressers, a composite blend of neem with nanofibers serves better in regeneration due to higher swelling and fungicidal effects. Infectious diseases can target and eradicate MDR organisms .Future directions in this area would focus on a multifunctional platform for providing treatment via a combination of ‘neem with stimuli-responsive nanomaterials, with a focus on "precision medicine" in diseases such as cancer or ‘arthritis’.

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. At present, multi-agent chemotherapy and surgery provide only limited effects and the prognosis for patients with recurrent or metastatic disease remains poor, with 5-year survival rates below 30%. These challenges highlight the need for innovative therapeutic approaches targeting osteosarcoma more effectively. Fenretinide, a synthetic derivative of all-trans retinoic acid, has shown significant antitumor activity in various cancers. In a recent high-throughput drug screening study, fenretinide emerged as the most active molecule against diffuse midline glioma over more than 3500 compounds. Fenretinide also demonstrated cytotoxic activity against osteosarcoma cell lines in vitro and in preclinical models and is endowed with a favorable safety and toxicity profile. However, its poor water solubility and limited bioavailability have hindered its clinical translation. To improve fenretinide bioavailability and enhance tumor exposure, different nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have been proposed. Here we propose a tertiary complex made of fenretinide, bovine serum albumin, and hydroxypropyl-betacyclodextrin, indicated as BSAF. Methods: BSAF was evaluated for the main physico-chemical parameters such as hydrodynamic size, zeta potential, stability to drug leakage, and the biological effect on the osteosarcoma cell line MG63. Results: BSAF showed hydrodynamic size at the nanoscale, enhanced drug solubilization, high drug loading and size stability to dilution, characteristics that make this complex useful for targeted therapy. When tested on the MG63 osteosarcoma cell line, BSAF demonstrated significantly enhanced cytotoxicity, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ~50% lower than free fenretinide. The complex was more efficient than free fenretinide in inhibiting cell migration as demonstrated by wound healing assay. Live-cell imaging analyses revealed a cytostatic effect at sub-cytotoxic concentrations. Specifically, treatment with concentrations below the IC50 resulted in significantly prolonged cell doubling time, decreased cell divisions, increased cellular sphericity and thickness, and decreased cell area. These morphological changes are more consistent with cell cycle arrest rather than apoptosis. These findings were corroborated by stable dry mass measurements, an indication of a cytostatic state rather than progressive cell death. In addition, cell motility parameters (e.g., instantaneous velocity, track speed, and displacement) at the single-cell and population level were markedly reduced at sub-IC50 concentrations, further supporting a cytostatic phenotype. Conclusions: Collectively, the new BSAF complex showed promise as a potential therapeutic agent for treating osteosarcoma cancer, due to the favorable physico-chemical characteristics and the cytotoxic/cytostatic effects on MG63 cells. BSAF effects may be therapeutically valuable, particularly in preventing tumor recurrence by suppressing the proliferative and migratory potential of residual drug-resistant clones. Unlike conventional anticancer agents that mainly rely on cell death, fenretinide, when complexed, demonstrates a dual capacity to induce both cytotoxic and cytostatic responses, depending on concentrations, potentially overcoming multiple resistance mechanisms that are generally associated with tumor exposure to drug sub-cytotoxic concentrations.

Targeted modulation of enzyme activity offers a promising strategy for both elucidating catalytic mechanisms and developing novel therapeutics. In this study Zn2+ ions were introduced as an effective competitive inhibitor of fumarase, a pivotal enzyme in the citric acid cycle. Zn2+ binding significantly alters the Michaelis constant (Km) for both L-malate and fumarate, with a pronounced preference for inhibiting the reverse reaction (L-malate to fumarate), a direction relevant to redox homeostasis and anaplerotic flux. A major limitation of the clinical application of many metal-based inhibitors is their poor water solubility. To overcome this challenge and introduce a new class of enzyme inhibitors, zinc-modified carbon quantum dots (Zn-CQDs) were synthesized. Owing to their polar surface, Zn-CQDs interact more effectively with the enzyme, which increases the local concentration of Zn2+ ions at the active site. As a result, these nanomaterials exhibit enhanced water solubility and significantly greater inhibitory potency compared to free Zn2+ ions. Biophysical and kinetic analyses confirmed the competitive inhibition mechanism and demonstrated that Zn-CQDs interact with the enzyme without perturbing its secondary structure. Notably, both Zn2+ ions and Zn-CQDs preferentially inhibited the reverse reaction of fumarase, offering precise control over fumarase activity. Molecular docking and MD simulations elucidated the plausible binding site of Zn2+ within the active site. It was found that Zn2+ interacts with Glu340, a residue previously shown to be involved in binding fumarase inhibitors. These findings establish Zn-CQDs as a novel class of water-soluble fumarase inhibitors, distinguished by their facile synthesis, tunable solubility, and selective inhibition profile. This work highlights the potential of zinc-based nanomaterials in enzyme regulation, offering a powerful alternative to existing inhibitors and developing targeted redox-sensitive therapeutic strategies.

Catechins, belonging to the class of flavanoids, are present in greater amounts in green tea. They have attracted the interest of consumers owing to their health promoting properties, especially the antioxidant property. However, their food application is limited due to their low bioavailability, poor water solubility and stability under GI conditions. The catechins loaded niosomes were prepared using Tween 60 (CNT60) /Tween 80 (CNT80) and lauric acid by thin film hydration technique. The physicochemical such as photostability, solubility and storage stabilityat 30±2oC and 5±2oC were studied for three months. Samples were withdrawn at specified time intervals and analyzed for Particle size, Polydispersity Index, Zeta potential, Entrapment efficiency and pH. Solubility of free catechins was found very low @ 22.58 µg/mL, whereas solubility of catechin loaded niosomes prepared with T60 and T80 increased to 46.82 and 46.02 µg/mL. The solubility of catechins apparently improved two fold by loading them into niosomes. Free catechins were highly photosensitive; nearly 69% was degraded after 360 min when exposed to artificial Ultraviolet light, On the contrary, catechins in the niosomal form were degraded by 27.31 and 29.77% after exposure to the same time for CNT60 and CNT80. The catechins loaded niosomes when stored at 30 and 5oC increased the particle size beyond 100 nm and decreased Entrapment efficiency to 50-65% after 90 days. The particle size, Polydispersity index and viscosity increased, whereas Zeta potential, Entrapment efficiency and pH decreased with increase in storage period up to 90 days at 30 and 5oC for CNT60 and CNT80.

In the treatment of breast cancer, loading chemotherapy drugs into nanoparticles can accumulate in tumor tissues by virtue of the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, thereby reducing the systemic toxicity of chemotherapy drugs and improving the therapeutic effect. However, the interior of solid tumors contains a dense extracellular matrix (ECM) composed largely of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which severely hinders the deep penetration of drugs and limits their full therapeutic efficacy. Although the antifibrotic effects of α-mangostin (α-M) have been reported, its potential in remodeling the tumor microenvironment (TME) to synergistically enhance nanomedicine penetration and antimetastatic efficacy remains underexplored. For this reason, our study proposes a combined therapeutic strategy that inhibits the activity of CAFs through the antifibrotic drug α-mangostin, in order to promote better penetration of shikonin nanomedicine (NP/SHK) into the tumor tissue and enhance the therapeutic effect of breast cancer. Chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel loaded with α-M (HG@α-M) is designed to transform CAFs from an activated state to a quiescent state and reduce the deposition of ECM. In addition, we designed glutathione (GSH)-responsive nanomedicine (NP/SHK) carrying shikonin (SHK), which solves the problem of poor water solubility of SHK itself. In breast cancer model mice, compared with the single NP/SHK treatment group, the combined treatment down-regulated the expressions of CAF markers α-SMA and FAP-α by 52.70 and 56.77%, respectively, increased the tumor growth inhibition rate by 32.27%, and reduced lung metastatic nodules by 26.06%. This study effectively inhibited the growth and metastasis of tumors, providing a new and efficient combined treatment approach for metastatic breast cancer.

The well-known medicinal plant ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has numerous health benefits, but its key bioactive compound, 6-gingerol, suffers from poor water solubility and stability. This study aimed to enhance the oral delivery of ginger extract by formulating a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) using a design of experiments (DoE) approach. Ginger rhizomes were extracted by ultrasound-assisted extraction, with a 10-min extraction time yielding the highest 6-gingerol content. An I-optimal mixture design was then applied to develop SNEDDS formulations using castor oil, Cremophor RH40, various co-surfactants (Span 20 or Span 80), and co-solvents (polyethyleneglycol 400 (PEG 400) or ethanol). The optimized SNEDDS readily self-emulsified in gastric medium, producing nano-sized droplets (42.5-78.1 nm) with low polydispersity (0.12-0.58) within 10 min. The ginger extract-loaded SNEDDS (G-SNEDDS) achieved high encapsulation efficiencies, exceeding 90% for both 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol, and significantly enhanced the in vitro release of 6-gingerol, reaching cumulative release levels of approximately 90-100% over 48 h, compared to only 67% from the unformulated extract. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the formation of uniform, spherical nanoemulsion droplets. Short-term stability testing indicated that the optimized formulation remained physically stable, as evidenced by minimal changes in droplet size, and preserved most of the 6-gingerol content under ambient storage conditions; however, exposure to elevated temperatures accelerated the conversion of 6-gingerol to 6-shogaol. Overall, the optimized SNEDDS significantly enhanced the solubility, dissolution, and storage stability of ginger extract, offering a promising strategy to improve the oral bioavailability of the therapeutically active constituents present in ginger.